Showing posts with label Quinte Conservation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Quinte Conservation. Show all posts

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Photography & Fitness outings for Spring 2013

Our intrepid walking group survived the winter so, to celebrate the arrival of spring, we will keep the age-old Canadian tradition of "sugaring-off".


I have created a couple more galleries and updated the existing ones with participants' images from our outings. Click to view the galleries.

Some all-star images can be viewed including Margaret Liddon's super-close-up of a barred owl, Ramesh Pooran's cross-country skier landscape, and Ken Liddon's zoom-in on a church stained glass window, among others.

The Photography & Fitness participants have been learning all about their cameras and shooting techniques on our walks; now it's time to learn post-processing on your computers to really bring your images to life. There will be a mid-week series of indoor evening workshops to practice this hands-on. Half of the magic of photography occurs after you take the picture, whether adjusting it in the darkroom or on the computer.

We will also be having an evening to plan your entries into local photography contests, including the Picton Fair and CLIC...selecting images, thinking like a judge, and technical specifications for submitting your digital entries. I will be posting the April-May events soon so stay tuned to this page.

There will also be one weekend evening workshop to view each others' latest images, portfolio critiques and a demonstration on how to edit a shoot along with a potluck social time.

See the photos from past outings in the previous blog posts below. $10 per person per outing or purchased ahead as a $50 gift certificate. Purchase 10 outings a year and you get your own online gallery to display the images you take on our trips.
 

First Day of Spring, Wed. March 20 -- Honey Wagon Farms welcomes us before the weekend crowds for Maple In The County. Open to the public on March 23 and 24. Click to view photos.

Sat. March 23 -- Bleasdell Boulder and Trent River. An easy trail to an unusual geologic attraction, one of the largest known glacial erratics in North America, estimated to be 2.3 billion years old. The Boulder is 13.4 metres long, 7.3 metres wide and 6.7 metres high (44’ x 24’ x22’). This Conservation Area connects to the Lower Trent Trail. Click to view photos.

Wed. March 27 -- Spring melt and run-off at the old mill pond in Bloomfield and a walk along the old railroad grade where it crosses two streams on the Millennium Trail. Meet at the Bloomfield Mill Pond park on Mill Street at 1:00. This outing is dog-friendly, feel free to bring along your well-behaved canine friend/family.
Click to view photos.

Sat. 30 (Easter weekend) -- Special access to a unique County landmark....the old air base on Macaulay Mountain, now the Loch Sloy business park. With a guided tour and history by Jacqui Burley we will walk the grounds and see inside some of the buildings. An extra $5 will be added to the usual fee for this outing. From 10 a.m. to noon. See the Sgts. Mess Hall, an H-hut (barracks), a hangar, drill hall, flying club and possibly the theatre and the original holding cells and learn the history of the British Commonwealth Air Training Program (BCATP). Click to view photos. 

To register: phil@philnorton.com

Featured in the local media:

picturechangetrio
By PhotoSensitive

Monday, January 7, 2013

Winter outings 2013

As the new year begins, bundle up and hit the trail. The "Photography & Fitness" schedule for January - March outings includes snowshoeing and cross-country skiing if weather permits. 

Also some indoor workshops and portfolio reviews on the big screen. See the dates and destinations below and photos from past outings in the previous blog posts. $10 per person per outing or purchased ahead as a $50 gift certificate. Purchase 10 outings a year and you get your own online gallery to display the images you take on our trips.

Here is the tentative list of dates and destinations for the 2013 Photography & Fitness winter outings and indoor portfolio reviews and digital workflow sessions for the Quinte / Prince Edward County region. Most of the events are on Wednesday afternoons and Saturday mornings. 

Sunday, Jan. 6 -- Macaulay Mountain Conservation Area hemlocks creek valley. A lengthy forest walk to start the new year. Meet at the lower parking lot beside Macaulay House museum in Picton. 9 - 11 a.m. Click to see photos.

Wednesday, Jan. 9 -- Downtown Napanee and Napanee River at dusk and city lights, sunset 4:46 p.m. Carpool from Picton 3:00. Meet at the river rapids park at 3:30 p.m. East side of Dundas Street bridge. Click to see photos.

Saturday, Jan. 12 -- Owl woods on Amherst Island. An early and long day trip. Carpool from Picton at 7:00 a.m. and the ferry at 8:30 a.m. Share ferry fee. Return 4:00 ferry. Click to see photos.

Wed. Jan. 16 -- Sandbanks, Lakeshore Lodge bluffs, ice formations 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Carpool from Picton at 12:30. Click to see photos.

Saturday, Jan. 19 -- O’Hara Mill Pioneer Homestead & C. A. 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. Carpool from Picton at 7:45 a.m. to Madoc via Sidney Street, Belleville.  $5 extra charge for park entrance. Click to see photos.

Wed. Jan. 30 -- Presqu’ile Provincial Park and lighthouse, sunset 5:13. Share park entrance fee. Carpool from Picton 2:00 p.m. Meet outside the park gate at 3:00. Click to see photos.

Groundhog Day weekend, Feb. 1 - 3 -- Retreat to Sumac Centre near Sharbot Lake, Ontario. Bon Echo Provincial Park. Indoor Photoshop tutoring. Slideshows. Portfolio reviews. Click to see photos.

Wed. Feb. 6 -- Sandbanks Provincial Park Cedar Sands Trail. A long walk (probably need snowshoes) from the Outlet Beach gate and Nature Shoppe parking, through the Cedars Campground and along the Outlet River, sheltered by the dunes, return via Outlet Beach or park road dependent upon wind chill. Carpool from Picton 12:30. From 1:00 to 3:00 or 4:00 p.m. 

Sat. Feb. 9 -- Menzel Centennial Provincial Nature Reserve and boardwalk to Mud Lake. Carpool from Picton 8 a.m. or meet at the trailhead at 9:00. Register for directions. May need to help shovel out a parking spot. Postponed due to snow-covered roads.

Wed. Feb. 13 -- A review of basic digital workflow from camera to computer, resizing images for web galleries and printing. Photoshop adjustments and tricks. Free online picture editing tools. St. Andrew's Church in Picton. Demonstration on the big screen and bring your own camera, manual and laptop for tutoring as time allows. 6 to 8:00 p.m. 

Wed. Feb. 20 -- Sunset from Mount Pelion and Downtown Trenton by night. Carpool from Picton 3:00. Meet at the Trent Port Museum public parking area at 55 King Street. A lengthy walk to the hilltop lookout and back. 4:00 to approx. 7:00 p.m. Click to see photos.

Sat. Feb. 23 -- Sager Mountain Conservation Area lookout tower. More driving than walking but beautiful countryside and a good climb to a steel deck with a view. Carpool from Picton at 7:30 a.m. or meet at the park at 9:00 a.m. Bring a shovel in case the parking is snowed in. Click to view photos.

Wed. Feb. 27 -- Sorry, this one is postponed, family reasons. Indoor workshop at St. Andrew's Church in Picton. Hands-on basic studio portrait lighting and flash tips. Slideshow on the big screen and portfolio review of your pictures. 6:00 to 8 p.m.

Sun. March 3 -- Long Point (Prince Edward Point), cliffs and the edge of ice where waterfowl find open water in the frozen bay. Carpool from Picton 8:15 a.m. Register to get directions. 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. Click to view photos.

Wed. March 6 -- JC Nyman Farms maple syrup woodlot, sugar house and livestock barn. A preview of Prince Edward County's annual maple festival just over the mountain from Picton. Hopefully tapping or boiling will be going on; either way the lambs and farm animals will be good subjects. Meet there at 11 a.m. or carpool from Picton at 10:30. Click to view photos.


Wed. March 20 (spring begins) -- Honey Wagon Farms welcomes us before the weekend crowds for Maple In The County. A special opportunity to tour the Taylors' sugar bush and mini sugar house operation at the headwaters of Waring Creek near Picton (265 Sandy Hook Road) from 1 to 3:00. Click to view photos.

Sat. March 23 -- Bleasdell Boulder and Trent River. An easy trail to an unusual geologic attraction, one of the largest known glacial erratics in North America, estimated to be 2.3 billion years old. The Boulder is 13.4 metres long, 7.3 metres wide and 6.7 metres high (44’ x 24’ x22’). This Conservation Area connects to the Lower Trent Trail. 9:00 to 11:00, register for directions. Carpool from Picton at 8 a.m. Click to view photos.

Wed. March 27 -- Spring melt and run-off at the old mill pond in Bloomfield and a walk along the old railroad grade where it crosses two streams on the Millennium Trail. Meet at the Bloomfield Mill Pond park on Mill Street at 1:00.
Click to view photos.

To come:

Shooting and archiving stock photography
Little Bluff
Glenwood Cemetery and chapel
Point Petre ice formations
Heavy horses
Winery
Beaver Meadow
Massasauga Point
Frink Centre
Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory


Get on the Eblast list and receive notices about upcoming outings and workshops: phil@philnorton.com

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Photo outings for 2012

Thank you to everyone who came out for the 2012 year-end potluck and slideshow. All proceeds ($120) are donated to the Friends of Quinte Conservation, Friends of Sandbanks, and Reaching For Rainbows (St. Andrew's, Picton) in appreciation for the use of their properties and facilities.

Prince Edward County Photography Tours will be offered to visitors in 2013. Tourists and groups may reserve various packages or mix and match half-day or full-day outings. See the topics below.



History & Architecture

Walking and driving
Towns and villages of Prince Edward County
Picton
Crystal Palace
Glenwood Cemetery
Bloomfield brick houses
Red barns
Wellington big trees, big chair
Harbour light
Night exposures

Nature & Birding

Walking and driving
Woodlands and shorelines
Marsh and wetlands
Little Bluff and Long Point
Bird banding (in season)
Lighthouse
Flowers
Beaver Meadow Conservation Area
Macaulay Mountain hemlocks and falls
Sunrise, sunset, stars

County Attractions

Driving tour of Prince Edward County
Back roads and rural scenery
Loyalist villages
Glenora Ferry from Lake On The Mountain
Waupoos orchards and wineries
Lookout deck
Black River Cheese factory
Lighthouse and South Bay church
Early settlers cemetery
Milford pond and falls
Lakeshore Lodge stroll by the cliffs
Sandbanks Park dunes and Lake Ontario

Indoor Lessons

Slide presentation, County scenes
Portfolio reviews and tips
Camera settings
Basic digital workflow from camera to computer
Photoshop editing and tricks
Optimizing for websites and email
Archiving
Indoor shooting with tripod
Artificial lighting and portraits
 

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Eyes, ears, nose and throat


Water is scarce this summer so many frogs congregate in small puddles like this one at Beaver Meadow Conservation Area near Bloomfield, Ontario.